News/Reports

Kotcho Lake Purpose Statement

The primary role of the Kotcho Lake Ecological Reserve is to protect Colonial
Waterbird nesting sites and their migration stop over. This reserve includes two flat
islands (partly boggy) and an area around the mouth of Kotcho River. Kotcho Lake is a
large, very shallow lake located within the Etsho Plateau ecosection, a region of
extensive muskeg, lowlands and rolling plateau dominated by Boreal White and Black
Spruce.
The Lake is a site of traditional First Nation settlement, and contains a significant fishery
and significant cultural and archaeological values.

Known Management Issues First Nation’s have a significant interest in the management of this siteResponse: Work with Fort Nelson First Nation towards a collaborative management agreement for the ecological reserveRecreational visitation to this site is inappropriate due to breeding bird colonies
and presence of a First Nation burial siteResponse:Prevent recreational visitation by not disclosing precise location or facilitating
access.

ConservationRepresentation – ecosection: Kotcho Lake Ecological Reserve is located within the Etsho Plateau Ecosection. Only 0.01% of this ecosection is represented in the protected areas system. This ER contributes almost half (48%) of that representation.biogeoclimatic subzone/variantKotcho Lake Ecological Reserve makes an
insignificant contribution (less that 1%) to the protected areas system representation of the BWBSmw 2 (boreal white and black spruce, moist, warm) variant, of which 2.18% is protected province wide.

Cultural Heritage
Special Feature First Nation’s burial site

Other Management Considerations

Relationship to other PAs The ecological reserve is located adjacent to the Kotcho Lake Village Site Provincial Park.Collaborative Management Arrangements This ecological reserve will, once the agreement is signed, be subject to the Memorandum of Agreement respecting the management of provincial parks between the Government of BC and the Treaty 8 First Nations.